Automatic signal



March 2 1926.

- J. M. MlLLE-R AUTOMATIC SIGNAL Filed Feb. 15 1922 2 shee 1 INVENTOR W-w BY w zit;

wrrN ESSES Patented Mai; 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES-PATENT "1,575,445 FFICE- 311118 1;. marina, or wasnmoron, manner or conumsm, assrenoa 'rommn aurouarrc smnar. LIGHT conramr, or wasnmeron, nrs'rnrc'r or eonum',

A :CORPQBATI ON OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL.

Application filed February 1:; 192a Serial no. 530,265; 7

To all whom' it may concern:

Be it known that I, J MES-M. MILLER, a citizen of the Uni-ted States, residing at ,Washington, District of Columbia, haverinvented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to direction signals for motor operated vehicles, andhas for one of its chief characteristics, the provision of a casing adapted to be mounted at the rear of the vehicle, and constructed to provide a plurality of separate compartments, each of which contains an electric light bulb, the rear wall of the casing being provided with the legends Stop, and Back, and is further designed to include I arrows projecting both to the right and to the left, and between which arrows is a contral compartment, the electric light bulbs being selectively illuminated, so as to indicate to pedestrians and the drivers of other vehicles, the intention of the driver of the particular vehicle, so equipped as to whether he intends to turn to the right, or left, or to bring his vehicle to a stop, or incidently move his car in a reverse direction.

Another important object of the invention resides in the construction of means for selec-tively illuminating the compartments above referred to, the central compartment being illuminated incident to a slight depression on the brake pedal, plus a slight turn of the steering wheel for the purpose of warning the drivers of other vehicles, that one of the other compartments is about to be illuminated to indicate the intentions of the driver of said vehicle with regard to the direction which he intends to pursue, or whether he intends to bring his vehicle to a stop, or if standing, whether or not he intends to reverse; the various compartments, with the exception of the last two mentioned compartments being automatically illuminated incident to the steering of the vehicle, while the compartment which indicates the intention of the driver to reverse the vehicle is illuminated incident to the operation of The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction,

'may be viewed from either side of the si the gear shift lever in the proper direction,

combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

V In the drawings forming part of this a plicati on, like numerals of reference in icate similar parts in the several views, and wherein: V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor opera-ted vehicle illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the bracket.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation looking at the rear of the signal casing.

Figure 4 is a similar view looking at the front of said casing.

Figure 5 is a view showing the interior of the casing and the arrangement of the different compartments.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the switch.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the switch.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the system.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates generally a motor operated vehicle of any well knownconstruetion, and upon the rear fender 11 is mounted a casin 10. It is of course to be understood that this casing may be mounted on any other appropriate part of the vehicle, but it is preferably arranged upon the rear fender so that it can be viewed from either end of the vehicle- The casing 10 is supported by means of a bracket 12 of any suitable construction.

The casing 10 may vary in size and configuration without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, but is preferably of diamond shape in plan in order that the various compartments above referred to can be conveniently arranged for their specific purposes. As illustrated inFigure 5, the casing is divided by-a partition 13 to define a compartment 14 and a compartment 15, the compartment 14 having arranged therein an electric light bulb 16 which is used for parking purposes. The front and rear'walls of the casing 10 are providedgwith alinedo enings 17 and 18 respectively so that this ulb Arranged within the compartment 15 1s an electric light bulb 19 for the purpose of i1- luminatinguthis compartment as the occasion requires. The rear Wall of the casing is ro vided with an enlarged sight opening w 'ch is covered by a piece of transparentmaterial pursue.

20, upon which is arranged the word Stop, so that when the compartment 15 is illumihated, the drivers of other vehicles will be informed of the fact that it is the intention of the driver of-the particular machine so equipped with'the invention to bring his car to a stop." Also arranged within the casing 10 are oppositely curved partitions 21 and 22 respectively which are connected by s aced parallel members 23, thus dividing e easing into a central compartment 24 and compartments 25 arranged at either'slde of the central compartment 24, and an additional end compartment 26. A portion cf the rear and front walls of the casing is cut away to provide oppositely arranged arrows 27 which are arranged directly m a line with the compartments 25, so that when either of these compartments is illuminated, the particular arrow by reasonot its arrangement u n saidwalls will indicate to others, the direction the machine is about to are further rovided with openin 28 which are arranged centrally of said we is between the arrows 27, and these 0 enings 28 are arranged directly in line with thecentral compartment 24; The openings 28 are covered by transparentmembers 29 preferably blue in color, and it is the purpose to illuminate this central compartment prior to illuminating any other compartment, so as to inform others that the signal will be subsequently operated to indicate the intentions of the driver of the vehicle as above pointed out. arranged therein. an electric light bulb 30, while similar bulbs 31 are arranged in the compartment 25. Another bulb 32 1s arranged in the compartment 26 to illuminate the latter forthepurpose of indicating to others, that the driver of the vehicle is about to move the machine in a reverse or backward direction, andfthis information is conveyed throu h the instrumental ity of a transparent member 33 which is arranged to cover an opening in the rear wall of the casing 10. and which member'has arranged thereon the word Back as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. It will be noted that the signal in its entiret can be read or viewed rom either end 0 the machine.

As above stated, the compartments are selectively illuminated for the various purposes described, and the bulbs arrange .in

said compartments are connected lILClICllitS which are energized from the battery of the vehicle A. A. di mmatic view of the s stem is illustra m Fi re 8. 7 However, t ese circuits are controlle in several ways, for an efiicient operation of the invention in its entirety, and it will be noted that with the exception of the compartment 14 and the compartment 26, the other compartments are illuminated-incident to the steering of the machine.

first illuminate'the compartment 24 in order The opposed walls of this casing Manifestly, the compartment 24 has.

0 rated without rcqui'ringany" attention of t t e operator, so-that he may" devote his attention to the operation and uidance of It is necessary owevcr, to

to selectively illuminatethe other compartments incident to the steering of the vehicle, and this compartment 24 is illuminated incident to a slight'depression on the brake pedal 34, and a slight turn of the steering wheel in either direction, which of course is necessary to steer the; vehicle. However, this turning of the wheel is very slight, and is equivalent to taking up the necessary play of said wheel, prior to actuating the steering mechanism. A switch to be hereinafter described is operated by turning said wheel, thereby closing the circuit,

through the brake pedal to the compartment 24. But when the brake pressed, it closes the circuit to tie compartment 15 independentlyof. any turn of the steering wheel, so that the stop signal is then brought into use. As illustrated in edal is de- Figure 8, the current for this purpose flows through the wire 35' from the source of energy, then through the brake pedal 34. fixed contact 35, and thence to the bulb in the sto compartment 15. t

pported upon one side of the chassis 38" of the vehicle is a switch including a casing 39', the side of which is slotted as, at 40 to permit of movement of the switch element 41. This element includes spaced members 43 which. co-operate with the contacts at the opposed sides thereof in order to selectively illuminate the compartments for the purpose above mentioned. For instance, at each side of the base 39 of the switch element there is arranged a pair of yieldable contacts indicated at 44 and 45 respectively, and the contacts 44 of each pair are slightl longer than the other contact 45 thereof. onsequently, when the switch element is moved in either direction, one of its members 43 is'brought initially into enga ment with the con-' tact 44 of one or tic other pair of yieldable contacts, so that the bulb 30 in the compartment 24 is lighted just prior to a contact being made between the other mem ber 43 of the switch element and the remaining contact 45, which of course illuminates one of the compartments 25, depending upon the direction in which the vehicle 18 turned. Asshown in Figure 8, the current passesthrough the wire 35', brake dal 34, contact 35, through the switch just escribed,

30 from where it is ounded as at 37 and thence through the wire 48 to the bulb I i the same manner, eircept that the current i similarly covered same direction, incident to the steeringof the vehicle, the switch element is brought into engagement with the adjacent contact of the same pair of contacts, thereby illuclosing the circuit to the, central compart-.

ment 24 first, and then flowing through the wire to the particular compartment 25, from where it is grounded as at 49. The compartment at ithc left is illuminated in passes through the wire 50" and is grounded at'51. It might here be stated" that the arrows at the right of the casing are covered with transparent material, preferably red, while the arrows at the left of the casing are .blue; switch element 41 is preferabl v d with the shaft '52 forming part of connects the steering mechanismof the vehiclethrough the instrumentality' of a rod 53, so that the switch element is properly controlled incident to the steering of the vehicle.

-It is to be further understood that when the brake pedal 34 is depressed to illuminate the compartment 24, prior to the illumination of an other of the compartments selectivel t e brakesjof the vehicleare not applied or in any way effected, as the pedal. is merely depressed slightly, which movement is ermitted b the lost motion which these pedals genera y have.

The bulb 32 in the compartment 26 is lighted when the gear shift lever 55 is moved in a direction to lace the car in reverse gear, and when t e vehicle occupies thls position, it enga es the contact 56, closin the circuit 57 to t e bulb 32. Thus the wor Back, is illuminated so that the drivers of other vehicles will be informed of the fact, that the vehicle is about to move m a reverse direction.

The compartment 14 is illuminated when.

the bulb 16 is lighted, the latter being used in the capacit of a parkin lamdp, and the circuit 58 to t is bulb is in epen ently controlled by means of a switch 59. I

In practice, when the vehicle is in motion, it is only necessary to depress the brake pedal '34 to moveit into-en agement with the contact 35, thereby closing the circuit to the bulb in the compartment 24, through the switch actuated by the steerin wheel in the manner above set forth and-w en thiscom- .p'artment is illuminated, it affords evidence the wire 35' from the Thy transparent material,

of the fact that the operator of the vehicle is about to change'his course, or otherwise bring his vehicle to a stop which will be subis "obviously will allow left or the right, and the course which he is about topursue is clearly indicated by one of the arrows 27 at either side of the casing, which are automatically illuminated upon further movement of the steering wheel. respectively are illuminated independently of the steering mechanism as above described.

illumination of any of the compartments, except the compartments 14, 15 and 26, is

in reality controlled by the brake pedal, in-

asmuch as the bulbs in these compartments cannot be illuminated untilthe said pedal is moved into engagement with the contact 35, and this is true irrespective of the position of the switch element 41'. For instance, in the day time, or under any other circumstances where it isnot necessa to resort to the. use of the signal, the ve icle The compartments 14, 15 and 26.

It is to be understood, that the selective around corners and circle without illuminatin any of the compartments. While. the switch is operated under these conditions, the com artment cannot be illuminated until the al is depressed. Manifestly when the signal is in operation and the-compartment. or compartments illuminated, a release of the pedal will'extinguish the bulbs, before the turn is completed and the switch elements still in an operative position. Again, when the machine is at a stand-still, and just prior to putting the machine in motion, the front wheels can be turned in the proper direction at an angle to the runnin gear for.v the purpose of moving the swite element 41 into an operative position, and

then by working the brake dal u and down in quick order, the various bul s emdo not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is 1 A si al for motor vehicles comprising a controfii ngelement operated from the brake mechanism ofthe vehicle, electrically operated right and left directions signals included in normally open circuits, a switch arranged in said circuits, means operated from said controlling element for closing said switch, and a switch mechanism actuated from the steering mechanism of the vehicle for completing the circuit through the first mentioned sw tch to selectively operate the direction signals for the purpose specified. I v

2. A signal for motor vehicles comprising a controlling element operated from the brake'mechanism of the'vehicle, electrically operated right and left direction signals and a stop signal each included in normally open. circuits, a switch arranged in said circuits, means operated from said controllingelement for closing said switch to complete a circuit to the stop si a1, and a switching mechanism operate from the steering mechanism of the vehicle for selectively completin another circuit throu h the; first. mentioned switch to provide For the operation of a selected :signal.

3. A signal for motor vehicles comprising a controlling element operated from the brake mechanism of the vehicle, electrically operated right and left direction signals and an advance signal each included in a normally open circuit, a'switch arranged in said circuits, means operated from said controllin element for closing said switch, and a switching mechanism operated from the steering mechanism of the vehicle when the first mentioned switch is closed for selectively operating a direction signal and the advance signal and with the operation of the advance signal before the operation of th; direction signal.

brake mechanism of the vehicle, electrically operated right and left direction signals a stop signal, an advance signal, each ,0

said signals included in normally. open" circuits, a switch arranged in said circuits,

means operated from the controlling element for closing said switch to complete a circuit to said stop signal, and a switching mechanism actuated from and upon the initial movement of the steering mechanism of the vehicle for completing a circuitmotorvehicles, a controlling element, electrically operated right and left turn signals,

a multiple contact switch including a movable element 'ada ted to -be operated from the steering me electrically connected to the respective turn signals, a source of current, a switch device for motor vehicles comprising, a centre ing element operated from the anism of the-vehicle 1 and further including separate contacts" operated by said controlling element and connected to said source of current, means for connectin one pole of said source of current to eac of said si for connecting said switc turn signa may be selectively operated. a

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES M. MILLER.

ale, and means '7 I device to the other pole of said source and in series withthe multi is contact switch whereby, the 

